Although there are tons of energy bite variations out there, I like to use a food processor to help take away some of the “chew” from the whole-grain rolled oats. I also think it speeds up the process.

You can store these balls in the fridge, however, I prefer to keep them in the freezer. Not only will they last longer (let’s be real … they’re gone before they could spoil), but they also tend to be less sticky when kept in the freezer. I find they never really freeze too hard, so I can easily grab and enjoy right out of the freezer or pack a couple to take with me. (They do get a little sticky if you hold them in your hands too long. That’s why I like to keep them bite-sized, hence the name: “bites”. ) 🙂

ARE RAISINS LOW FODMAP?

Raisins are considered low FODMAP in small servings of 1 tablespoon or 13 grams. If you’re using the Monash FODMAP app (which is recommended), you may notice that raisins appear red or high FODMAP at first glance. However, this first glance rating doesn’t always tell the whole story. If you click into the raisin listing, you will see that in addition to a high (red) FODMAP serving size, there are moderate (yellow) and low (green) FODMAP serving sizes, as well.

SERVING SIZE IS IMPORTANT

As the recipe is written, most should be able to tolerate 1-2 bites at a time during the FODMAP elimination phase. Please note this recipe includes several ingredients that contain small amounts of FODMAPs that could trigger IBS symptoms if eaten in larger than recommended servings. So, I encourage you to stick to the suggested serving size until you know your FODMAP tolerance.

Instructions

Place oats and peanut butter in a food processor. Pulse until the oats are coarsely ground and just mixed with the peanut butter. (A handful of times should do the trick.)

Add ¼ cup maple syrup, coconut, raisins, cinnamon, and (optional) salt. Pulse until well mixed. (If the mixture seems to too dry – the consistency will vary depending on the peanut butter used – pulse in more maple syrup a tablespoon at a time until the desired, slightly sticky, easy to roll, consistency is achieved.)

Using clean hands, grab a small amount of the mixture and roll into a roughly 1-inch sized ball. (The mixture will be slightly sticky.) Place the ball on a parchment-lined pan and repeat with remaining mixture.

Once finished, place in the freezer until no longer sticky. Transfer to a freezer-safe container for storage. (You can store them in the fridge, but I like to store them in the freezer until I’m ready to enjoy a bite or two.) When ready to eat, let thaw (if frozen) for a minute or two before enjoying.

Notes

Serving Size: For me, this recipe makes roughly 18-20 small bites. Nutrition information is based on 1/18th of the recipe. Based on ingredients, I would recommend no more than two bites per serving (or 1/9th of the recipe) until you have tested and know your FODMAP tolerance.

Peanut Butter: I recommend using “natural” peanut butter made with just peanuts (and maybe salt). A low FODMAP serving is 2 tablespoons or 32 grams.

Raisins: A low FODMAP serving is up to 1 Tbsp. or 13 grams according to the Monash app.